Creamy Feta Spinach Pasta (Printer-friendly)

A luscious pasta dish featuring crumbled feta and tender spinach tossed in a velvety, tangy sauce made with starchy pasta water.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)

→ Dairy

02 - 7 oz feta cheese, crumbled

→ Vegetables

03 - 5 oz baby spinach, washed
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Pantry

05 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
08 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

09 - Zest of 1 lemon
10 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta in colander.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add spinach to skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until completely wilted, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Add hot drained pasta to skillet with spinach. Sprinkle crumbled feta evenly over mixture.
05 - Pour 1/2 cup reserved pasta water into skillet. Toss vigorously until feta begins to melt and forms creamy emulsion. Add additional pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Season with black pepper, chili flakes, and salt to taste. Serve immediately garnished with lemon zest and fresh herbs.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 25 minutes but tastes like you fussed over it for an hour
  • The pasta water trick turns simple feta into restaurant worthy sauce
  • Perfect for those nights when you want comfort food without the heaviness
02 -
  • Don't rinse the pasta after draining, that starch is crucial for sauce cling
  • The feta won't completely melt into a smooth cream, and those salty pockets are intentional
  • Add pasta water gradually, you can always add more but you can't take it back
03 -
  • Use a wooden spoon or spatula to toss, metal can scratch your skillet
  • If the sauce breaks, whisk in another splash of pasta water off the heat
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